2.
12
Under the Japanese system only 35 persons, most of them managers of the former big salt and fresh fish laans, were qualified to bid for the fish at auctions. Wholesale bidders were not allowed to retail fish themselves. These 35 bidders or brokers formed an association with the office in the market.
2.
The Director of Fisheries also supervised the works of the different fishing syndicates at Cheung Chau, Tai 0, Aberdeen, Pu Toi, Shaukiwan, Yaumati, Tsuen Wan, and Sai Kung. These district syndicates came again together to form a Central Union which was supported financially by the district syndicates. The Director of Fisheries was the head of the Union. Registration of the fishing junks in the syndicate was made compulsory. The fishermen had no choice but handed over their catches to the syndicate which would carry them to the Central Wholesale Market for sale. The fishermen were supposed to obtain their food supplies, net-making materials, kerosene, tools, etc., from the syndicate at lower costs. Many kinds of food stuffs, kerosene and fishing gear, which government controlled, were not available in the open market. Due to the unusual circumstances and diabolic wartime psychology squeeze and corruption were bound to take place when the fish was handled through the system.
The wholesale market and the syndicate were not only self- supporting but made profits by taking fixed percentage commissions. When a picul of fish went through the system and at last was sold, 15% from the total value of the sale was deducted as commission; 5% went to the district syndicate, 5% to the wholesale market and 5% to the broker. The proceeds were deposited in the government bank nominally for the benefit of the fishermen but in reality to benefit the government and officers.
In pre-war Hong Kong there used to be 3,000 big and small fishing junks of which about 1,000 measuring 50 to 90 ft. in length were big junks. But after the Japanese occupation the total number was reduced considerably; many of the big junks did not return and most of the junk trawlers left for Young Kong (TI). Swabue and other near-by fishing centres because food was easier There to obtain and their activities were less restricted there. still remained, however, for most of the time of the Japanese occupation, 30 long liners in Shaukiwan and 150 junk trawlers in Cheung Chau.
According to records kept in the different district syndicates the total number of fishing junks registered amounted to 4,000 ranging from very small sampans (7 or 8 feet long) to big junk trawlers (95 ft. Long), but as a matter of fact many are too small to be counted, some are old and useless and half of them are not fishing junks at all. So an estimate may be deemed more accurate:
Fishing centres
No. of big
junks (estimated)
No. of small
junks (estimated)
Japane se
Total (estimated)
Total 1944 record.
Lama Islands
30
30
Yaumati
Shaukiwan
Cheung Chau
2880
10
400
410
651
30
400
430
1,008
200
300
500
1,229
Tai O
50
50
616
Chuen Wan
Si Kung Pu Toi
150
150
582
60
60
100
100
240
1,490
1,730
4,086
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